Spear gun



Aug- 28, 1955 J. 1 CARROLL 2,760,480

SPEAR GUN Filed Sept. 20, 1954 United States Patent O SPEAR GUN James L. Carroll, Hilo, Territory of Hawaii Application September 20, 1954, Serial No. 457,083

1 Claim. (Cl. 124-22) Underwater spear lishing is a well-established sport, and is becoming more popular at the present time. Many spear guns have been proposed made of wood or metal, and various devices have been used for cocking the gun and releasing the spear. However, such devices have not been entirely satisfactory or are expensive to produce.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive yet positive acting spear gun which is simple in construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spear gun which is buoyant and which is easy to carry.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a double barrel spear gun in which one or both triggers may be released by a single movement.

In the drawings forming a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spear gun made in accordance with the present invention, showing the manner in which the gun is used.

Figure 2 is a plan view or" the spear gun of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the spear gun of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-section on the lines 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross section on the lines 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a single barrel spear gun built in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, there is shown a spear gun having a body, generally designated 7, having holes 9 therethrough for the reception of spears 11. Spears 11 are of generally normal construction, having barbs 13 at the end thereof and notches 15 at the opposite ends. In addition, the spears have a pin 17 er4 tending therethrough for the purpose of contacting the trigger latches, hereinafter described.

The cross-sectional views 4 and 5 show a preferred method of making the body portion 7 of the gun. In accordance with this method, a piece of wood 19 havin; three grooves therein, as is shown in Figure 5 is glued or otherwise fastened to a second piece of wood 21, of generally at shape. This produces a block having three holes therethrough and the center hole is sealed with the blocks 23 to provide a central air chamber 25, which renders the gun more buoyant. The outer two holes are provided at each end with a metal ferrule 27, which is driven into the wood as is shown. Thus, metal guides are provided as bearings for the spears in a simple and inexpensive manner. This method of construction also eliminates the need for boring long parallel holes, which is a relatively expensive operation.

Four metal plates are attached to the gun 7, two being attached to each end. The plates at the front of the gun have been designated 29, while those at the rear of the gun have been designated 31, although all four plates are of identical construction, but with the plates on the two ends turned in opposite directions. The end plates are held in place with screws, bolts, rivets, or other suitable fastenings, designated 33. Inserted through the Patented Aug. 28, 1956 front end plates are the two triggers, generally designated 35. Each of the triggers consists of a shank portion 37, which terminates in a handle portion 39. The opposite end of the trigger is passed through the holes in the plates 29, and has a curved portion 41, for the purpose of gripping and holding the pins 17. It will be noted that the upper trigger overlies the bent-up handle of the lower trigger in such a manner that if the upper trigger is depressed by itself, both barrels of the gun will be discharged simultaneously. However, if only the lower trigger is pressed, only the lower barrel will be discharged and the upper barrel can be subsequently discharged by a similar motion. Thus, in accordance with my construction, both barrels can be discharged by a single movement, yet each of the barrels can be individually discharged when so desired.

A stop 36 may be provided to prevent the trigger from swinging free.

Nylon or other cords of suitable material 43 are passed through the rear plate and terminate in knots 45, ho1ding the cord securely in place on the gun. Although an elastic material may be used, it is preferred to use surgical rubber tubing, designated 47, for the propelling means of the weapon. The tubing 47 is fastened to the cord 43 by tying a knot in the end of the cord, inserting it in the tubing, and then binding the tubing with cord, wire or other suitable material 49. A similar loop is provided at the rear of the weapon, of cord, as is shown in Figure 1, so that a loop is inserted in the notch 15 of the spear.

To use the gun, it is only necessary to insert the spear backwards through the front of the gun, engaging the notch 15 with the loop of the rubber 47, thrusting the rice .spear backwards until the pin 17 has cleared the loop of the trigger 41. The spear can then be allowed to go slightly forward, whereupon the pin 17 will engage the loop 41, holding the weapon in a cocked position. Preferably, as the spear is pushed to the rear, it is also twisted one complete turn, as is shown in Figure 1. Thus, a spinning motion is imparted to the spear and there is also less danger of buckling a spear.

In Figure 6, the front portion of a single barrel gun is shown and, in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, a single trigger is provided and the front plate 29, as well as the rear plate, suitably modied.

I claim:

A gun for spear fishing, comprising an elongated handle portion, upper and lower holes through the length of the handle adapted to receive a pair of spears, metal ferrules inserted in each end of said holes to act as guides for spears therein, a pair of triggers comprising rod-like members pivoted at the front of the gun with a U-shaped portion adapted to lie in front of the gun and engage a pin on a spear inserted in the gun, the two triggers having handles attached thereto, the handle member of the upper trigger overlying the handle member of the lower trigger, whereby movement of the upper trigger will discharge spears in both holes but whereby movement of the lower trigger will discharge only a spear located in the lower hole, and elastic members attached to the rear of the gun for engaging and propelling spears.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,148,944 Albrecht Aug. 3, 1915 2,496,217 Kearny Ian. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 115,782 Australia Aug. 25, 1942 54,829 France Ian. 18, 1950 (Addition to No. 920,856) 

